Let's begin with the niceties: congratulations on your upcoming nuptials and on getting the whole family together for a cross-Atlantic trip!

With that out of the way, here come the fair warnings: there are reasons Las Vegas is known as THE adult playground. Back in the early-90s Las Vegas businesses tried to change their image and attract families to Sin City… and learned quickly what a bad idea it was. With negative feedback pouring in and tourist dollars tailing off, Chamber of Commerce types were reminded that grown-ups go to Las Vegas to get away from the kiddos, not to visit Disneyland with a roulette wheel. Ever since that misguided experiment, Vegas hotels and casinos have been trying to rectify the ill-conceived "family friendly" image.

Knowing that, try and be extra considerate of your fellow Vegas visitors, many of whom would prefer the hotels to be strictly 21-and-up (count us at FirstTimeLasVegas.com as part of that crowd… unofficially, of course). Because the hotel staff know this, they're not going to cut even a happy just-married family much slack. Try and bring the young 'uns into even the most casual of lounges and you will definitely be turned away. It's also best to avoid very high-end restaurants, as the reception to children there is likely to be chilly at best.

To continue with the list of Dont's: Children are allowed in casinos areas only in passing. They're not allowed to linger (which is just as well, because they'd learn bad blackjack habits watching me). This means when you want to gamble, you will, without exception, have to leave the kids in the hotel room or somewhere else under supervision.

One of the few exceptions that does cater to families is Circus Circus. In fact, practically screams "family friendly." If you're still deciding on where to stay, this hotel is worth serious consideration.

I realize just about everything I've told you sounds less that optimistic, but don't despair. If you're willing to be a little flexible in your Vegas plans, your trip can turn out to be one great memory. One place where the whole family can be entertained is at Excalibur's "Tournament of Kings" dinner. With knights, horses, jousting and dinner eaten with your hands — plus a drink or two for everyone with more than a couple of decades of living under their belts — it's a spectacle worth attending. Food and drinks keep the grown-ups happy while youngsters are rapt with the show. (If your 7-year-old is a boy this could very well be the highlight of his whole trip.) Dinner shows are at 6pm and 8:30pm.

Another option, one not so child-centric but still friendly to other visiting adults, would be to take advantage of the complimentary limo service provided by the excellent Italian restaurant Casa di Amore. Slip the driver a little extra when leaving the restaurant and ask to see a nice view of the Strip's famous lights. There's no guarantee the driver will take the long way home, but most don't mind. Note that you'll have to call the restaurant to set an appointment for your limousine. Online reservations don't handle that part of the experience.

A few more attractions that are welcoming of all ages: the fountain show outside the Bellagio. It's far more impressive than words can describe and especially spectacular at night. Mandalay Bay offers a stroll around and through giant aquariums. This is one of the many free or cheap things to do in Las Vegas that are suitable for everyone.

If you're looking for some adult-only time and no one is volunteering to stay with the children, some hotels will provide guests with phone numbers for outside babysitting services that will come directly to your hotel room. Ask the hotel concierge for details. The only near-the-Strip hotel that offers on-site childcare is the Palms. This isn't free, of course, and I would strong recommend against taking the whole family to the Palms. It's a wonderful hotel, but it's also one of the most popular party hotels. There a fair chance your kids could see some stuff you'd really prefer wasn't going on right in front of them. Which brings me to my last note…

The Strip after dark isn't a good place for kids to be, even with their parents. After sundown, the streets are littered very quickly with fliers showing scantily clad women advertising escort services. And when I say "scantily clad" I'm being pretty liberal with the term. Some of the fliers border on explicit. If you haven't had "the Talk" yet with your young one, this may be one of the most awkward ways to prompt that conversation.

Sheila, you're not the first to inquire about under-21 activities (See: "Can I drink? Can I gamble?"), but you are the first to ask us about bringing a daughter who can legally drink and gamble in your home country to a place where she cannot. The short answer to your question is no, your daughter can't hang out in drinking clubs or lounges and she can't loiter for too long while you're gambling at slot machines or a table game, or a nearby security guard will descend upon her to deal out swift justice. And by "descend upon her to deal out swift justice" I mean a security guard will lazily shuffle over eventually and softly ask for identification before telling your daughter she can't stay in the casino area.

As for activities she's allowed to enjoy, most hotels on the Strip have a very large, very lively pool. And we don't mean a gardening hose feeding a trickle into a plastic Dora the Explorer splashy pool. Oh no. Not in Vegas. For example: the MGM Grand's "Grand Pool Complex" takes up 6.5 acres (2.7 hectares, or whatever the heck you use over there), with five swimming pools and three whirlpools all connected by a river your girl can navigate on a raft or tube. Surrounding the river and pools are cabanas, foliage, bridges and waterfalls.

Also, most Las Vegas shows, like Blue Man Group, allow audiences of any age. The Cirque du Soleil shows are all-ages except for Zumanity (at New York New York), which seats an audience that is 18-and-over because of the show's racy imagery.

As for musical acts, the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay or The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel offer 18-and-up rock shows (sometimes this changes, the listings on our hotel pages will provide details) and The Farm on South Rainbow Boulevard is one of the only venues in Las Vegas that books edgy rock and punk acts and caters wholly to teenagers.

If she's a wild type, she can ride any of the several roller coasters. I can personally recommend the Big Shot (See: "Unusual… even by Vegas standards") at the top of the Stratosphere, probably the most frightening thrill ride I've ever experienced.

So, while she may not be able to enjoy stereotypical Las Vegas activities — you know, boozing and losing money at the tables — she's certainly not going to be bored.